I'm super excited. Look what Santa brought me ... a standing desk! I got to try out a friend's portable one recently at a writing retreat. It was great. I spent a couple hours drafting my most recent novel while gazing out the window at a fall lake vista. Heaven! After that, I was hooked.

This one isn't portable, like my friend's, but it's a great model for home use with plenty of room for my coffee cup (because I know what's most important). The main reason I wanted one: health benefits. Or, I should say, to avoid the negative health impact of spending prolonged amounts of time sitting, which is something I do all too often.

Many people are exploring alternatives to traditional work stations, both for home and in-office use. But the issue isn't a clear cut deal. It's important to know how to safely use a standing desk.

What do we know about the health impact of standing vs. sitting? The most important take-away: balance. Although sitting for too long can cause health issues, so can standing for too long. If you do choose to try it out, be sure to check out these tips on how to incorporate standing in a safe, comfortable way, including: work-station height; proper body alignment; and standing surfaces.

As for me, I'm already totally enjoying my new work option. I've been getting some Christmas Day editing in (with 24 hours of "A Christmas Story" in the background mingling beautifully with the hum of my husband's new label maker ... hey, he asked for it).

I hope everyone got what was on their wish lists too! Merry Christmas!